EF-Scale Training

Welcome to the EF Scale training page. WDTD is hosting two courses: The EF Scale course and the Damage Assessment Toolkit course.

Training resources

EF Scale course -

updated in 2016. This course gives you an introduction to the EF scale and a process to apply EF-ratings to damaged structures. This course has two lessons, two case studies and a final quiz in the LMS. The two case studies, narrated by experts in the NWS field, help you practice what you've learned in the lessons.

In each lesson, please access the references tab (upper right) to access the link to the EF kit and the EF scale document to help you answer some of the questions.

There are some changes since the EF-Scale training has been started in 2007. The EFkit has been improved to include more pictures and an easier interface for those using tablet PCs. The new EFkit features a front page with links to the training modules and a glossary of construction terms found in the EF-Scale Damage Indicator descriptions. Two case studies have been added as separate lessons.

Accompanying the lessons, the EFkit is available for use in training or in the field. It is a tool to help you become more familiar with the EF scale as you take the lessons and as you conduct a real damage survey.

NOAA employees and affiliates: To receive credit for completing the EF-Scale Training, you must take the end of course quiz through the Cornerstone LMS!

The Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) Course
This course is new as of 2018 and is meant to be taken by NOAA employees intending to use the DAT. The goal of this course is to introduce you to using the DAT and best practices for surveying using this tool. Begin taking this course by opening and viewing the course orientation (or view html5 version). The orientation will give you information on: how to take the course, and the runtime length of each lesson.